Notes: *Muslims were able to gain some converts from India, however, it wasn't as efficient and quick as most other countries, but ultimately Indians continued to practice Hinduism. Muslim culture such as archetiture was spread into India as the Muslim conquest rapidly became apparent.
Muslim invasion of India
Began in the 12th century
Started with the Rajput Kingdoms in North India
The Indian Empire had already been attacked by:
Central Asian nomadic tribes
Persian Empire
Fall of Sasanids
Arrival of the Caliphates
Muslims took control of the area
Remained following their own system of identity
Destroyed the cultures of the people they ruled
Socially
Religiously
Lifestyle
Muslim migrants
Held their own beliefs and rituals
Hindus virtually could not take in their religion and beliefs
Placed more emphasis on worship of:
Gods
Goddesses
As a way to neutralize the Muslims
Proved to be effective during the spread of Buddhism
Bhaktic cults
Worshipers of Gods and Goddesses
Allowed even the untouchables to join
Included
Men and women
Women were popular in:
Songs
Poetry
Writing
Bhakti
Stressed strong bonds and ties with the god and goddesses
Chants, dancing, and occasionally drugs were used
As a way to become spiritually active
Individual salvation
Once one had become devoted to god
Sins were removed and the caste system had no meaning
Gained many followers from low-caste groups
Brahmins
Considered the Muslims as a threat to Hindu beliefs
Denounced the Muslims by:
Claiming that they were polluting Hindu Temples
Polluted meat-eaters
Chaitanya
Known as the Hindu holy man
Composed songs (15th century)
Compassion for Hindu deities
Wanted Indian Muslims to renounce Islam
Muslim ulama
Grew aware of the dangers of Hinduism
Tried to fuse the two religions together
Ended in failure
One needed to follow the teachings of the Qur'an
Pray
To be a true Muslim
Tried to strengthen Muslim community
Converters were gained at last once Muslims conquered most of the Indian subcontinent
South of the Himalayas
Hindus rejected Muslim faith
No sign of converting
Even if a Muslim was to conquer their land
Arab traders:
Spread the new Islamic religion through trading
First mosque was built in India in 629 A.D.
Rama Varma Kulashekhara was the first Indian to convert
Malabar:
The Mappilas was the first Indian civilization to convert
More closely related to Arabs
Providence of Sindh
In 8th century
Conquered by the Arab army
Led by Muhammad bin Qasim
Became the eastern providence of Umayyad
Indian architecture:
Took some ideas of Muslim technology
Use of shapes (primarily used natural forms)
Decorative lettering using calligraphy
Colored marble
Plaster
Tiles
Cement -> using mortar
Muslims previously experimented with in other countries before attempting to build in India
Architecture is broken down into
Religious
Mosques and tombs
Secular
Forts
Trade
Arabia and India had began to trade before Islam was created (7th century)
Muslim traders and merchants spread Islam wherever they had went
First mosque in India is considered to be built in 629 A.D.
By Rama Varma Kulashekhara (Considered to be the first Indian Muslim)
First contact with the Indians
Arab attacked pirates near modern day Bombay to protect the Arabian Sea
While doing so, they also settled at Indian ports
Spread their culture
Growth of converts increased
Hindu kings hired Muslim mercenaries to protect them
Sher Shah Suri
Built large networks of trade
Grand Trunk Road (1540-1544)
Connected Calcutta and Kabul
Still in use today
Questions:
How did Islam spread?
Islam spread into India through a series of conquest made into India. Before the Muslims entered India, it was already attacked by nomadic groups and the Persian Empire (attacked after the fall of the Sassanids). After the fall of Sassanids the growth of the caliphates began and Muslims controlled part of India. The Muslims kept their trace of religious thoughts and actions, however, by doing so they did eventually caused the destruction of the culture and society of the people they ruled (socially, religiously, and their lifestyles). At first, the Muslims had migrated to India, but those who believed in Hinduism generally could not take in Muslim beliefs becuase they only believed in one god and had many differences from the Hindu belief.
Growth of trade within the Islamic world:
Trade was one of the main reasons why Islam had spread to India. The Arabs were trying to protect the Arabian Sea against pirates who attacked near present day Bombay. While protecting the Arabian Sea, Arabs settled on the Indian ports eventually spreading their culture. In fact, Islamic traders and merchants were the main source of the spread of Islam into South India. Hindu kings eventually hired Muslims and made them into mercenaries. Sher Shah Suri was the first Muslim to build a large network of trade which consisted of roadways. The trade routes were known as the Grand Trunk Road which connected Calcutta and Kabul and to this very day it is still in use. They traded goods such as Indian spices, ivory, gold, and other goods.
Urbanization and Islam:
Most of the Indians whom were in the lower caste system (peasants and untouchables) had converted because it allowed them to have more freedom compared to Hinduism and being in a low class. Intermarriages between Indians and Hindus were common. Muslims didn't require Islams to convert due to their clash with Hinduism. The main converters as stated earlier was the Indians in the lower caste system. However, the Indians in the higher class system remained as Hindus since they the caste system didn't affect them. Though, Islamic cultures were evident in India, as Indians built mosques. They used shapes to build their estates, decorative lettering in the form of calligraphy, colored marble, plaster, tiles, and cement made of mortar which were all adopted techniques from Islam.
Architecture throughout throughout the Islamic world:
Indian architecture is shown here. Most of their new styles had been adapted from the Muslims.
India had adapted Islamic uses of building mosques, use of shapes which they primarily used natural forms, decorative calligraphy, colored marble, plaster, tiles, and cement made from mortar. Indians broke architecture into two forms: religious and secular. An example of religious would be mosques and tombs. Tombs weren't really associated with religion, however, they were as detailed as mosques were based on the fact that Indians did believe in the afterlife from their early Hindu/Buddhist views. Secular would be associated with forts.
Examples of Syncretism and Islam:
A mosque built in India.
Lower class Indians in the caste system converted mainly because they could begin a new life as a Muslim.
Indians in the higher caste systems did not convert because Islam did not mesh well with their own religion: Hinduism. Islam did not tie in with Hindu beliefs. There was only one god which was Allah whereas the Indians were polytheistic and believed in natural gods. However, even with the whole ordeal of no conversion and Muslims finding it hard to gain followers, Indians did make mosques. Islam is the second most practice religion in India (the first being Hinduism). Muslims tried to gain converters, but most Hindus remained practicing their own religion.
Reactions to Islam:
Hinduism was the main religion in India. Because Muslim beliefs and ideals did not match well with Hinduism, Indians rejected the Muslims; just like they did with Buddhism.
As stated in previous questions, Indians in the higher caste system did not convert. In fact, they rejected the Muslim beliefs and placed more emphasis on the worship of gods and goddesses just like they did during the spread of Buddhism. They did this due to the fact that they found Muslim beliefs and ideals to be dangerous to their own and simply because they thought that the Muslim's cultures were inaccurate compared to theirs. Brahmins considered the Muslims as meat eating polluters and were destroying the Hindu temples. Others known as the Chaitanyas composed songs that denounced Muslim teachings and beliefs. The untouchables and peasants found Islam as a salvation, simply because they were rejected in the Indian community. By converting they found a new life and a new beginning, they also were rid of the caste system that bounded them to poverty and hatred amongst others. Muslims gave religious toleration and had lower tax rates.
Notes:
*Muslims were able to gain some converts from India, however, it wasn't as efficient and quick as most other countries, but ultimately Indians continued to practice Hinduism. Muslim culture such as archetiture was spread into India as the Muslim conquest rapidly became apparent.
Questions:
How did Islam spread?
Islam spread into India through a series of conquest made into India. Before the Muslims entered India, it was already attacked by nomadic groups and the Persian Empire (attacked after the fall of the Sassanids). After the fall of Sassanids the growth of the caliphates began and Muslims controlled part of India. The Muslims kept their trace of religious thoughts and actions, however, by doing so they did eventually caused the destruction of the culture and society of the people they ruled (socially, religiously, and their lifestyles). At first, the Muslims had migrated to India, but those who believed in Hinduism generally could not take in Muslim beliefs becuase they only believed in one god and had many differences from the Hindu belief.
Growth of trade within the Islamic world:
Trade was one of the main reasons why Islam had spread to India. The Arabs were trying to protect the Arabian Sea against pirates who attacked near present day Bombay. While protecting the Arabian Sea, Arabs settled on the Indian ports eventually spreading their culture. In fact, Islamic traders and merchants were the main source of the spread of Islam into South India. Hindu kings eventually hired Muslims and made them into mercenaries. Sher Shah Suri was the first Muslim to build a large network of trade which consisted of roadways. The trade routes were known as the Grand Trunk Road which connected Calcutta and Kabul and to this very day it is still in use. They traded goods such as Indian spices, ivory, gold, and other goods.
Urbanization and Islam:
Most of the Indians whom were in the lower caste system (peasants and untouchables) had converted because it allowed them to have more freedom compared to Hinduism and being in a low class. Intermarriages between Indians and Hindus were common. Muslims didn't require Islams to convert due to their clash with Hinduism. The main converters as stated earlier was the Indians in the lower caste system. However, the Indians in the higher class system remained as Hindus since they the caste system didn't affect them. Though, Islamic cultures were evident in India, as Indians built mosques. They used shapes to build their estates, decorative lettering in the form of calligraphy, colored marble, plaster, tiles, and cement made of mortar which were all adopted techniques from Islam.
Architecture throughout throughout the Islamic world:
India had adapted Islamic uses of building mosques, use of shapes which they primarily used natural forms, decorative calligraphy, colored marble, plaster, tiles, and cement made from mortar. Indians broke architecture into two forms: religious and secular. An example of religious would be mosques and tombs. Tombs weren't really associated with religion, however, they were as detailed as mosques were based on the fact that Indians did believe in the afterlife from their early Hindu/Buddhist views. Secular would be associated with forts.
Examples of Syncretism and Islam:
Indians in the higher caste systems did not convert because Islam did not mesh well with their own religion: Hinduism. Islam did not tie in with Hindu beliefs. There was only one god which was Allah whereas the Indians were polytheistic and believed in natural gods. However, even with the whole ordeal of no conversion and Muslims finding it hard to gain followers, Indians did make mosques. Islam is the second most practice religion in India (the first being Hinduism). Muslims tried to gain converters, but most Hindus remained practicing their own religion.
Reactions to Islam:
As stated in previous questions, Indians in the higher caste system did not convert. In fact, they rejected the Muslim beliefs and placed more emphasis on the worship of gods and goddesses just like they did during the spread of Buddhism. They did this due to the fact that they found Muslim beliefs and ideals to be dangerous to their own and simply because they thought that the Muslim's cultures were inaccurate compared to theirs. Brahmins considered the Muslims as meat eating polluters and were destroying the Hindu temples. Others known as the Chaitanyas composed songs that denounced Muslim teachings and beliefs. The untouchables and peasants found Islam as a salvation, simply because they were rejected in the Indian community. By converting they found a new life and a new beginning, they also were rid of the caste system that bounded them to poverty and hatred amongst others. Muslims gave religious toleration and had lower tax rates.
Sources:
http://www.indiabuzzing.com/2009/04/11/spread-of-islam-in-india/
http://www.barkati.net/english/
Summary: